Process of lowering the four point



Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS OF LOWERING THE POUR POINTOF LUBBIOATING OIL Leo Liberthson, New York, N. Y., assignor to L.

Sonneborn Sons, Inc., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. ApplicationOctober 2, 1034, Serial No. 746,513

Claims.

This invention relates to improved lubricating oils and a process ofpreparing same, and especially to lubricating oils having a. low pourpoint.

v Lubricating oils, and especially lubricating oils 5 containing wax orwaxy hydrocarbons in solution tend to have a high pour point. In thecase of lubricating oils containing wax or waxy hydrocarbons, the lattercompounds have a tendency to precipitate when the oil is cooled, therebycausing the oil to set or gel, and causing the oil to flow sluggishly ornot at all. Lubricating oils derived from the distillation of so-calledPennsylvania or Mid-Continent crudes belong generally to the waxy classmentioned. I have discovered that by subjecting a waxy petrole'umlubricating oil to ultra-violet light,

such as from a mercury vapor lamp, the pour point of the oil is reduced,and this oil may be used alone, or in admixture with other oils, with soexcellent results.

It is also permissible to add to the abovesubstances a polymerizabiesubstance of an olefinicaromatic structure, such as styrol, vinyl orpropylene naphthalene, etc. These materials may be 25 added in theproportions of 10 to of the paraillnic material, and the paraiiinicmaterial and the aromatic or cyclic material both participate in themodification.

The raw material in the form of a thin film is so subjected to theaction of ultra-violet light at a temperature below the boiling point ofthe material, and up to at least 300 F. in any suitable apparatus. Forexample, a thin film of an oil obtained from a wax bearing Pennsylvanialubricating oil, and having a pour point of from to F., may beexposedfor from 3 to 12 hours to the irradiation of a low vapor pressuremercury quartz lamp having ultra-violet radiations preferably below2,800 Angstrom units. After such irradiation, the oil has a pour pointof as low as 5 F. Such oil may be used alone or in admixture in anyproportions with other oils. The amount of treated oil to be addeddepends on its potency, and only a small amount need be added to lowerthe pour point of the untreated oil. For example, a mixture of about 5%of such oil with untreated oil having a normal pour point of 25 F. has apour pointyof as low as 10 F. The following examples illustrate theeffects of small amounts of material treated at normal ten:-

perature upon a Pennsylvania waxy lubricating oil having the followingproperties:--

Specific gravity.. .3 A. P. I 28.0 Viscosity (Say) at 210 F ..sec 79 5Flash point 1"-.. 450 Fire point- .3 IL. 515 Pour point F... 30

Color (Lovibond ,5 in. cells) 20 yellow 38 red Upon the addition of 5%of treated oil, the 10 following mixture was obtained:-

Specific gravity at F A. P. I- 28.0 Viscosity (Bay) at 210 1" "sec..- 80Flash point F... 450 1 Fire point- F.. 515 Pour point 1'... 10

Color (Lovibond A in. cells) 20 yellow 38 red Upon the addition of 5% ofoil irradiated at a temperature oi 250400 F. the following mixture wasobtained:--

Specific gravity at 60 F A. P. I..- 28.0 Viscosity (Bay) at 210' F sec..00 Flash point F... 450 a Fire point- 1''... 515 Pour po I -10 Color(Lovibond in. cells)--. 20 yellow 88 red fin in a state of colloidalsuspension. I do not wish however to be limited by this statement oftheory, but only by the appended claims.

Where in the specification and claims reference is made to the term waxypetroleum lubrieating oil or such similar expression I mean a petroleumlubricating oil containing wax or waxy hydrocarbons in solution such asa Pennsylvania grade lubricating oil or a Mid-Continent gradelubricating oil.

I claim:

1. A lubricantconsisting of a waxy petroleum lubricating oil havingnormally a high pour point caused by wax dissolved therein, and a waxypetroleum lubricating oil irradiated with ultra violet rays of wavelength predominantly less than 2800 Angstrom units in amount ofapproximately 5% and potency suflicient to reduce said normally highpour point of said lubricating oil.

2. A lubricant consisting of a waxy petroleum lubricating oil havingnormally a high pour point caused by wax dissolved therein, and an ultraviolet irradiated waxy petroleum lubricating oil in amount and potencysuflicient to reduce the said normally high pour point of said firstlubricating oil at least 10 F.

3. A lubricant consisting of a waxy petroleum lubricating oil havingnormally a high pour point of at least 15 F. caused by wax dissolvedtherein, and up to about 5% of an ultra violet irradiated waxy petroleumlubricating oil of potency suflicient to lower said normally high pourpoint of said first lubricating oil at least 10 F.

4. The process of lowering the normally high CERT JICATE Patent No 2,158 ,8 68

Itis hereby certified that error pour point of a waxy petroleumlubricating oil which pour point is caused by wax dissolved thereincomprising subjecting a waxy petroleum lubricating oil in the form of athin film to ultra violet irradiation of wave length predominantly lessthan 2800 Angstrom units and at a temperature below the boiling point ofsaid lubricating oil, and blending approximately 5% of the irradiatedwaxy petroleum lubricating oil with a nonirradiated waxy petroleum firstlubricating oil.

5. A process of lowering the normally high pour point of a waxypetroleum lubricating oil, which pour point is caused by wax thereincomprising subjecting a waxy petroleum lubricating oil in the form of athin film to ultra violet irradiation of 2800 Angstrom units and at atemperature below the boiling point of said lubricating oil, andblending a sufficient amount of the irradiated waxy petroleumlubricating oil with a non-irradiated waxy petroleum lubricating oil tothereby depress the normally high pour point of said nonirradiated oilat least 10 F.

LEO LIBERTHSON.

OF CORRECTION. I I

December 6, 1958.

LEO LIBERTHSON appears invthe printed specification of the abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 2, second 1 column,

Erni 10, claim i strike out the word "first"; and that the said LettersPatent should be'read with this correction therein that the Sallie I mayconform to the record of the case in Patent Office;

Signed and sealed this 10th day of January, 'A. no 19 9; x

(Sea Henry Van Arsdale? Acting consuls sioner of Patents.

